Psychologists and Torture

June 20, 3:23 PMMental Health ExaminerJerilyn Dufresne

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Iranian Shirin Ebadi, Peace Nobel Laureate in 2003, seen, next to Eric Sottas,
director of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), left, during a press
conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, June 19, 2009. Ebadi presented the
launch of the annual report on the protection of defenders of human rights.
(AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi)

Evidence has come to light about psychologists' involvement with the torture at Guantanamo and elsewhere.

The APA condemns torture of any kind. "Do no harm" is in the Code of Ethics. In an amendment to its resolution on torture, the APA wrote:

"Be it resolved that this unequivocal condemnation includes all techniques considered torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Geneva Conventions; the Principles of Medical Ethics Relevant to Role of Health Personnel, Particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners; or the World Medical Association Declaration of Tokyo. An absolute prohibition against the following techniques therefore arises from, is understood in the context of, and is interpreted according to these texts: mock executions; waterboarding or any other form of simulated drowning or suffocation; sexual humiliation; rape; cultural or religious humiliation; exploitation of fears; phobias or psychopathology; induce hypothermia; the use of psychotropic drugs or mind-altering substances; hooding; forced nakedness; stress positions; the use of dogs to threaten or intimidate; physical assault including slapping or shaking; exposure to extreme heat or cold; threats of harm or death; isolation; sensory deprivation and over-stimulation; sleep deprivation; or the threatened use of any of the above techniques to an individual or to members of an individual's family. Psychologists are absolutely prohibited from knowingly planning, designing, participating in or assisting in the use of all condemned techniques at any time and may not enlist others to employ these techniques in order to circumvent this resolution's prohibition."

The following video explains about psychologists who were involved in the torture of detainees following 9/11.

How does the involvement of psycholgists in torture fit in with their Code of Ethics? Is it okay to break that code for the "benefit of the country"? The conversation continues with you.